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                         "THE TIME OF THE END"

                     The Interpretation Of Prophecy

INTRODUCTION

1. Previously I suggested that much of the confusion regarding end times
   may be due to various eschatological expressions...
   a. Such as "last days", "coming of the Lord", etc.
   b. Misunderstanding their use in the Scriptures
   c. Failing to observe how their use in the Scriptures creates
      problems for some end time scenarios

2. Another reason for confusion regarding end times relates to
   interpretation of prophecy...
   a. Such as those in the Old Testament and the book of Revelation
   b. Whether we should interpret them literally or figuratively

[Indeed, "The Interpretation Of Prophecy" may be the main reason behind
the plethora of views related to the end times...]

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW ONE INTERPRETS PROPHECY

   A. EXPRESSED BY A DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALIST...
      1. "No question facing the student of Eschatology is more
         important than the question of the method to be employed in the
         interpretation of the prophetic Scriptures." - J. Dwight
         Pentecost, Things To Come
      2. "The adoption of different methods of interpretation has
         produced the various eschatological positions and accounts for
         the divergent views within a system that confront the student
         of prophecy. - ibid.
      3. "The basic differences between the premillennial and
         amillennial schools and between the pretribulation and
         posttribulation rapturists are hermeneutical, arising from the
         adoption of divergent and irreconcilable methods of
         interpretation." - ibid.
      -- Note:  This is what separates even pretrib and posttrib
         dispensational premillennialists

   B. EXPRESSED BY A HISTORICAL PREMILLENNIALIST...
      1. "Here is the basic watershed between a dispensational and
         nondispensational theology." - George Eldon Ladd, The Meaning
         Of The Millennium: Four Views
      2. "Dispensationalism forms its eschatology by a literal
         interpretation of the Old Testament and then fits the New
         Testament into it." - ibid.
      3. "A nondispensational eschatology forms its theology from the
         explicit teaching of the New Testament." - ibid.
      -- Note:  This is what separates dispensational and historic
         premillennialists

   C. EXPRESSED BY A POSTMILLENNIALIST...
      1. "Premillennialists place strong emphasis on literal
         interpretation and pride themselves on taking Scripture just as
         it is written." - Loraine Boettner, The Meaning Of The
         Millennium: Four Views
      2. "Postmillennialists and amillennialists on the other hand,
         mindful that much of both the Old and New Testaments is
         unquestionably given in figurative or symbolical language, have
         no objection on principle to figurative interpretation and
         readily accept that if the evidence indicates it is
         preferable." - ibid.
      -- Note:  Boettner does not distinguish dispensational from
         historic premillennialists, the latter of whom would agree with
         him

   D. EXPRESSED BY AN AMILLENNIALIST...
      1. "There is a basic difference in the method of biblical
         interpretation employed by premillennialists and
         amillennialists." - Anthony A. Hoekema, The Meaning Of The
         Millennium: Four Views
      2. "Premillennialists, particularly those of dispensationalist
         persuasion, are committed to what is commonly called the
         'literal' interpretation of Old Testament prophecy." - ibid.
      3. "Amillennialists, on the other hand, believe that though many
         Old Testament prophecies are indeed to be interpreted
         literally, many others are to be interpreted in a nonliteral
         way." - ibid.
      -- Note:  Hoekema distinguishes between dispensational and
         historic premillennialists

[Thus everyone admits that how one interprets prophecy greatly
determines the end time scenario to which they hold.  How then should we
interpret prophecy?  Literally, figuratively, or some of both...?]

II. THE CHALLENGE IN INTERPRETING PROPHECY

   A. ILLUSTRATED WITH OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY...
      1. The prophets themselves did not always understand - 1Pe 1:
         10-12; Dan 12:8-9
      2. Many in Jesus' day did not understand
         a. The people who wanted to make Him a physical king - Jn 6:
            14-15; cf. 18:36
         b. Jewish leaders who killed Jesus in their ignorance - Ac 3:
            13-15,17-18; 13:27
         c. Disciples of Jesus, unsettled by His death - Lk 24:13-24,
            25-27
      3. Even the apostles needed Jesus' help in understanding - cf. Lk
         24:44-47
      4. Some of the OT prophecies were clearly figurative
         a. Amos foretold of the restoration of David's tabernacle - Amo
            9:11-12
         b. James by inspiration interpreted it to refer to the church
            - cf. Ac 15:13-18
      -- Interpreting all OT prophecies literally did not prepare people
         to receive Christ

   B. SEEN IN ATTEMPTS TO INTERPRET PROPHECY...
      1. The many different views held:  premillennial, postmillennial,
         amillennial
      2. Even among those hold similar views
         a. Premillennialists differ as to pretrib, midtrib, posttrib
            events
         b. Amillennialists differ as to the dating and meaning of
            Revelation
      3. Premillennialists who profess to interpret prophecy literally
         are not consistent
         a. Walvoord admits that "the rod of His mouth" is figurative
            - cf. Isa 11:4
         b. Some interpret the locusts in Revelation as "armor-plated,
            missile-firing, flying war-machines"
         c. Few interpret the 144,000 to be literal male virgins - cf.
            Re 14:1-4
      4. Notice the many cults that have arisen based on their
         "interpretation" of prophecy
         a. E.g., Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses
         b. E.g.,  David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, Charles Manson
      -- Such diversity of views and evident failures by many should
         encourage caution

[This is not to say that we cannot understand prophecy, but that we
should be careful in how we handle God's word.  With that in mind, may I
offer...]

III. SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERPRETING PROPHECY

   A. OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY...
      1. Look to Jesus and His apostles for the proper interpretation
         a. Remember, Jesus had to explain to His apostles - Lk 24:45
         b. If it were not for Spirit-led apostles, we probably would
            not have made the connection between many OT prophecies and
            their fulfillment
            1) Cf. Mt 2:15 with Hos 11:1
            2) Cf. Mt 4:13 with Isa 9:1-2
      2. Do not base end time scenarios solely on OT prophecies
         a. Without NT interpretation, interpretation of OT prophecies
            is conjecture at best
         b. Yet many cults based their peculiar teachings on such
            prophecies
      -- Give heed to the words of Jesus and His apostles in the New
         Testament to avoid being misled by self-proclaimed interpreters
         of prophecy in the OT

   B. NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECY...
      1. Carefully note the context in which prophecies are found
         a. Are there indicators which place the time of their
            fulfillment?
         b. E.g., the Olivet Discourse - cf. Mt 24:34
         c. E.g., the book of Revelation
            1) "things which must shortly take place" - Re 1:1; 22:6
            2) "the time is near" - Re 1:3
            3) "the time is at hand" - Re 22:10
      2. Let the explicit take precedent over symbolic
         a. A book like Revelation is clearly figurative ("signified")
            - cf. Re 1:1
         b. Whereas Jesus and His disciples often explained things
            clearly
            1) Such as the events of the last day - cf. Jn 5:28-29;
               12:48
            2) Such as the events of coming of the Lord - cf. 1Th 4:15-
               5:2; 2Pe 3:10-12
         c. If interpretation of symbols in prophecies lead to doctrines
            that contradict clear teaching elsewhere, something's amiss!
      -- Inspired explicit teaching is a better guide than uninspired
         interpretations of figurative and otherwise challenging
         passages!

CONCLUSION

1. The interpretation of prophecy has often been a stumbling block...
   a. Many rejected Jesus in His day because they misinterpreted
      prophecy
   b. Many are led astray today by cults who misuse figurative
      prophecies in the Bible

2. The study of prophecy can be very beneficial...
   a. If we give careful heed to the clear teachings of Jesus and His
      apostles
   b. If we do not base our conclusions on prophetic interpretations by
      uninspired men that clearly contradict what is taught in the New
      Testament

With the New Testament as our guide we can "rightly divide the word of
truth", especially as it pertains to the proper interpretation of
prophecy...
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